“I’m Going to Be Competing Against Jiu-Jitsu in the Current Era” – Garry Tonon Fancies Tricky Grappling Contest Versus Tye Ruotolo

Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon is one of the top grappling stars in ONE Championship, but he will not take anything for granted when he faces off against Tye Ruotolo on 20 May.

That evening, the former ONE Featherweight MMA World Title Challenger meets the promotional newcomer at ONE 157: Petchmorakot vs. Vienot inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

And he is expecting an intense intense grappling contest – a single 12-minute round – against the teenage star.

“With Tye and Kade (who will face Shinya Aoki at ONE 157), they’re on the cutting edge of everything that’s been going on in jiu-jitsu now. These guys have been practicing those things, and when you’re a little bit younger, it’s a little easier for you to adapt,” the 30-year-old said.

“That makes it a much different matchup and a much more difficult matchup because I’m going to be competing against jiu-jitsu in the current era, comparative to competing against jiu-jitsu from my era, which I think was on a different level.”

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Tonon can trouble the young star with various offensive techniques on the canvas, but he expects Ruotolo to fight fire with fire.

The California native has already claimed several titles at world-renowned grappling events and became the youngest athlete in history to reach the ADCC semifinals back in 2019.

Will the young sensation topple Garry Tonon?

He has youth on his side, the experience of a veteran, and the motivation to put on a show against one of the best grapplers of this era.

With all that in mind, Tonon can’t wait to take on the 19-year-old in Singapore.

“I think they’re very good, both him and the brother. I look at this as a very difficult challenge. And I truly do believe that Tye and Kade are at the highest level, or are approaching the highest level, of the sport right now as up-and-comers,” he offered.

Before his successful transition into mixed martial arts on the global stage, “The Lion Killer”  defeated Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki in ONE’s first-ever submission grappling bout in 2017.

He is happy to get back to his bread and butter and hopes the Singapore-based promotion continues lighting up the Circle with more submission-only fights.

“It’s been years since that match [against Aoki], but that’s how I got my foot in the door. And I’m glad that now, [ONE is] finally really implementing it and making it a big part of their [events]. It’s an exciting thing, and it’s raising the level of our sport,” he stated.

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